Device for sterilizing closet-seats and the like.



K. GASIOROWSKI.

DEVICE FOR STERILIZING CLOSET SEATS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1912.

1 ,O55,160, Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

KARL GASIOROWSKI, OF ZURICH, SWITZERLAND.

DEVICE FOR STERILIZING CLOSET-SEATS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented )1 ar. 4, 1913.

Application filed November 25. 1912. Serial No. 733,521.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, KARL GASIOROWSKI, acitizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing at Zurich, III,Switzerland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices forSterilizing Closet-Seats and the Like; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification.

The invention relates to a device for sterilizing closet-seats and thelike by electricheating, by means of which the pathogenousmicro-organisms and parasites adhering to the surface of the seat andthe like are killed.

According to this invention the device is provided with a metal seat orwith a pipe having a coating of metal onits top serving as a seat, whichpipe or coating of metal is connected to an electric circuit whichbefore using the seat can be closed by an automatically operated circuitcloser in order to heat the seat to a high temperature (200 to 250 C.),whereupon after a short time and after a circuit is opened by a time lagrelay the pipe is cooled by circulating water.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates by way of example a formof construction according to this invention, Figure 1 is a sideelevation showing the closet-seat with a diagram of connections. Fig. 2is plan view of the closet-seat.

The usual wooden closet seat is replaced by a seat made of a steel-pipei of the same shape as the hitherto used seats, which is connected to anelectric circuit. In order to obtain the necessary current for eachcloset there is provided a single-phase transformer is, which isconnected to the installation of the building. An automatically operateddouble pole switch a is inserted in the primary circuit aof thetransformer, and acts to automatically close and open the circuit. Theswitch is provided with a weighted lever a which is connected to thecore of an electro-magnet n, the coil of which is inserted in anauxiliary circuit which is inserted in the primary circuit a. A switch 0is in serted in said auxiliary circuit andis operated by a coin or apush (I. An electromagnet or the coil of which is inserted in the primarcircuit a is also connected to the lever a and holds the switch a inclosed position. To this latter magnet there is connected a time lagrelay Z), of any approved form, which may be adjusted for example tooperate after one minute, and after this time causes the switch to beopened. By means of the switch a the magnet n is cut in for a short timethereby attracting its core and raising the lever (1 whereby the maincircuit is closed. By this means also the second magnet n2 is cut in,which keeps the switch a in closed position e\ en if the first magnet'22 after a short time becomes currentless by opening the switch a. Thesec ond magnet mshort-circuited at a predetermined time by the relay 6.By closing the switch a the seat 5 is heated by the electric current to200 to 250 C. This relay 1) is a time relay and is connected in anactuating circuit comprising point 1, wire 2, coil of relay 1), wire 3,wire 4 to point 5. As soon as the double pole switch a is closed,current will pass through this actuating circuit to energize the coil ofrelay 5. This coil 6 will attract its arcuate core 6 carried on apivoted lever arm 7 which is retarded in any well known manner. The endof core 6 will after a time strike arm 8 of a double pole switch 1) andclose this arm 8 on a contact 9, thereby establishing a controlcircuit'as follows; point 1, wire 2, Wire 10,

coil of the electromagnet Z, wire 11, point 9,

switch arm 8, wire 4 to point 5, thereby causing the core Z of theelectromagnet Z to be attracted for the purposes hereinafter stated.Shortly after arm 8 reaches the point 9, the arm 12 of switch [9 closesa circuit through the point 13 to establish a disconnecting circuit forshort circuiting the holding magnet m. This circuit Will be as follows;point 14, on one side of the magnet, wire 15, switch point 13, switcharm 12, wire 4 to point 5.

In order to protect persons from touching the heated closet-seat, thereis provided a board 9 which wholly covers the closet-seat a withoutlying thereon while the current flows through the seat. This board ismounted to turn about an axle and would be turned upward by acounter-weight h if it was not-kept in its described lower position byacatch f. One end of the catch is acted upon by a spring and the otherend by the electromagnet Z in the opposite direction. The electromagnetZ is excited and overcomes the action of the spring in the moment inwhich the relay 6 releases the automatic switch. The relay 6 at the endof its stroke not only short-circuits the coil of magnet m,'but also ashort time before this in consequence of a small leading of the contactat the relay 1) puts the electromagnet Z of the catch f in circuit. Thecatch f releases the cover and the counterweight it moves a lever 0downward and thereby acts on a flushometer p or the like, so that wateris caused to flow through the seat 71, which is cooled by this means.

In order to prevent a heating of the metallic seat when the cover 9 isturned upward, a contact piece 6 of an auxiliary switch is mounted on anarm which is connected to the cover and turns with the latter. By thisarrangement the current for automatically closing the main switch canonly flow if the board 9 covers the seat 2'. By this means the personsusing the closet are protected from being hurt.

By a mechanical connection with the door of the closet the board 9 maybe positively moved if desired in its lower position in which it coversthe seat. The seat could also be made of enameled gas pipe at the uppersurface of whichthere is closely secured a coating of metal, for examplesheet steel.

The single-phase transformer k, the automatic double-pole switch a, thetime lag relay and the switch 0 may be arranged in a box to be locked,which is provided with a narrow opening for inserting the coins.

The coin contact a may be re laced by a small push by which the switchis operated. The closing of the contact may also be performed when thecloset door is opened if the coin contact or the push contact arereplaced by a door-contact.

The main switch and the time lag relay may be replaced by a so calledremote time switch with clock-work of the automatic type which is usedfor staircase lighting.

Besides for closet-seats, the device according to this invention may beused also for example for operation tables. By heating the closet-seaton its upper surface the pathogenous micro-organisms and parasitesadhering to it are killed, so that thereby a transmission of gonorrhea,syphilis, typhus, gut-tuberculosis, dysentery, cholera, cancer and thelike, as well as parasites is wholly impossible.

I claim:

1. In a device for sterilizing closet-seats and the like, at least theupper surface of the seat being made of conducting material, an electriccircuit including said conducting part of the seat for heating thelatter, an automatically operated switch inserted in said circuit, atime lag relay interrupting said circuit, and means for cooling theseat.

2. In a device for sterilizing closet-seats and'the like, at least theupper surface of the seat being made of conductinv material, an electriccircuit including said conducting part of the seat for heating thelatter, an automatically operated switch insertedin said circuit, a timelag relay interrupting said circuit, means for cooling the seat, amovable board covering the seat during the heating, means for locking.the board in the covering position, and means tending to lift the board,said locking means being controlled by said relay.

3. In a device for sterilizing closet-seats and the like, at least theupper surface of the seat being made of conducting material, an electriccircuit including said conducting part of the seat for heating thelatter, an automatically operated switch inserted in said circuit, atime lag relay interrupting said circuit, means for cooling the seat, amovable board covering the seat during the heating, means for lockingthe board in the covering position, means tending to lift the board,said locking means being controlled by said relay, an auxiliary circuitfor operating the said switch and an auxiliary switch connected to themovable board allowing the auxiliary circuit to be closed only if saidboard is in its covering position.

4. In a device for sterilizing closet-seats and the like, at least theupper surface of the seat being madeof conducting material,

an electric circuit including said conducting part of the seat forheating the latter, an

automatically operated switch inserted in said circuit, a time lag relayinterrupting said circuit, means for cooling the seat, an auxiliarycircuit for operating the said switch and a coin switch inserted in saidauxiliary circuit.

5. In a device for sterilizing closet-seats and the like, a pipe formingthe seat, an electric circuit including said pipe, means for cooling theseat, an automatically operated switch inserted in said circuit, anauxiliary circuit for operating the said switch, a coin switch insertedin said auxiliary circuit and an auxiliary switch connected to themovable board allowing the auxiliary circuit to be closed only if saidboard is in its covering position.

6. In a device for sterilizing closet-seats and the lik at least theupper Surface of In testimony that I claim the foregoing the seat belngmade of conducting material, as my 111vei1t10n,I have signed my name 111an electric circuit including said conducting presence of twosubscribing Witnesses. part of the seat for heating the latter, anautomatically operatetl switch inserted in said \Vitnesses: circuit, anda time lag relay interrupting ERNST .Jdl'scnnn, said circuit, AUGUSTRI'JOGG.

KARL GA SI OROVVSKI

